Dublin born artist Robert Ballagh has worked in numerous, but always recognisable, styles, but has most often been labelled a pop artist and a photorealist. His painting career began in 1966, working as an assistant to Michael Farrell where he received his only training, and is otherwise self taught. Just three years later he represented Ireland at the Venice Biennale, and since then has enjoyed success at home in Ireland, with a full scale retrospective at the RHA in 2006, as well as holding so
lo shows abroad in Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria and Poland.
Active both artistically and politically, Ballagh is a member of Aosdana, held an honorary presidency role at the International Association of Art, and coordinated the 75th anniversary commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising in 1991 as well as the opening ceremonies of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games and the 2006 Ryder Cup. His design skills were put to use further in the public realm when he designed the last series of Irish Banknotes before the introduction of the euro, and he has designed over 70 postage stamps. He has also designed numerous theatre sets, most famously for Riverdance. His paintings can be found in the major collection including the National Gallery of Ireland, Ulster Museum, Trinity College Dublin and Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery.
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